CareSource to Provide Tricare Prime in Two Cities Starting 2026

Over 146,000 individuals in Atlanta and Tampa, Florida, are set to gain access to a new Tricare Prime option, an important step for military beneficiaries. This initiative will be managed by the nonprofit health provider CareSource, which is launching a pilot health care program in both cities beginning in 2026.

Awarded in 2024, the three-year demonstration project is set to assess the capacity of additional health care entities, such as CareSource, to manage segments of the Defense Department’s health system, which has historically been under the oversight of Humana in the East Region. An agreement set to last until 2029 has been established, enabling the Defense Health Agency (DHA) to investigate innovative methods to enhance care delivery, patient experience, and health outcomes.

Dr. David Krulak, director of the Tricare Health Plan, stated, “This innovative approach will help us understand how to expand access and enhance outcomes.”

Atlanta participated in a comparable value-based care pilot with Kaiser Permanente and Humana, which ended in 2022. The program evaluated alternative payment models, prioritizing quality over quantity of services provided.

Atlanta and Tampa, boasting significant retiree and active-duty populations of approximately 30,000 and over 160,000 emerge as prime locations for testing initiatives. Tampa serves as the headquarters for U.S. Central Command and is the location of MacDill Air Force Base, whereas Atlanta was formerly the site of Fort McPherson.

Enrollment for the newly introduced Tricare Prime plan will commence in November during the 2025 open season. CareSource CEO Erhardt Preitauer highlighted the organization's dedication to delivering personalized, high-quality care designed to meet the needs of military families.

A new pilot program has been introduced to complement existing Tricare offerings, which include those administered by Humana. Tricare Prime costs will remain stable, as active-duty families will continue to incur no fees, while retirees will face only modest copays.

Retirees aged 65 and older who utilize Tricare For Life in conjunction with Medicare will not qualify for this program.